Street-cleaning apparatus for melting snow and the like.



C. T. SMITH.

STREET CLEANING APPARATUS FOR IVIELTING SNOW AND THE LIKE.

APPucATloN FILED SEPT. 15. 1914.

1,160,205, Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PMNDIJRAPH C0.,WASH|NGTON. D. c.

1,1 60,205. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

5 SHE v N l WIT/1153858.' [NVE T05' A TORNEY.

CQLUMBIA PLANonR/ma-I co.,w^sIIINGTON. D. c.

vC. T.l SMITH.

STREET CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MELTING SNOW AND THE LIKE.

' APPucATloN FILED sEPT.15. 1914.

1 1 60,205. 4 Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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W. A TTOHNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Co.,wAsmNGToN. D, c.

C. T. SMITH. STREET CLEANING APPARATUS FOR IVIELTING SNOW AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I5. 1914. 1,160,205. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IVEY.

coLuMBlA PLANOGRAPM C0..WASH:NGTON. D. c.

C. T. SMITH.

STREET CLEANING APPARATUS FOR MELTING SNOW AND-THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I5. 1914.

1,1 60,205. l Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

5 SHEETS-.SHEET 5.

'7 'KP o L @Z l Ano/mfr.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0..WASMlNnTON. D. c.

venti'on are to provide an improved and effivso . of Newark, in the county of Essex and Statel moved along the streets of a vcity or town 'advantages and results as may respectively Fig.

, is a perspective viewcf theapparatns with UN Sfr `n CHARLES T, SMITiI-I, OF NEWARK,-

JERSEY;

.STREET-CLEANING APPARATUS non MELTING snow AND 'rnn Linn.

Speeification'o Letters Patent.A y PQLtQDtQdNOV. 165

Application filed September 15, 1914. Serial No. 861,803.

erably of the caster' type' or mounted upon a swivel so as to turn freely in any direction, see especially Fig. 9; The' chassis may be made up of suitable channel-beams forming side sills v4, 4, and end sills 5, 5, as is cus` tomary in the art of vehicle building, and a pan or container-bottom 6 is carried by said chassis spaced far enough above the sills to allow heat to pass therebetween, see Figs. 1 and 5 especially. A plurality of burners 7 of any desired or suitable type are mounted beneath the pan, and are here shown as carried upon cross-pieces 8 secured-'to and extending between the side sills 4,4, see Figs. G and 7. rl`hese cross-pieces furthermore carry upright pins' 9 upon which the pan or' bot.- tom 6 rests, thereby affording a secure sup.- p'ort for' the pan' andv at the same time not interfering with the spread of the flame from' the' burners. Other pins 10 extending upward from the sillsl 4, 5 support the pan at its edges and allow the free passage of the flame and heatfup around the same.

A pluralityofY vertically disposed studs or posts 11 are secured t0 the side sills 4, 4 and carry the container side walls or shell 12, which preferably comprises a rectangular member with an outer wall 13 and an inner wall 14, spaced from each other soV that a heat space or chamber 15 is left between them, see Figs. 1 and 4. vThese two To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES T. SMrrnf, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Street-Cleaning Apparatus for Melting Snow and the like, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe general purpose of, this invention is to provide a portable machine which can be and into which the snow, ice or' the like can be shoveled and melted to clear the streets of it, the water thus formed flowing o into the sewers.

yMore particularly, the ebjec'ts of the incient'apparatus for thus disposing' of snow and the like; to provide 4a container into which the snow may be shoveled and melted with great rapidity; to apply heat to the bottom and sides of said container and admit the heat to enter within the container;` to provide an extensive heat radiating surface; to coniine and utilize as much heat as possible; to spray the snow in the container with a portion of the water from the melted snow; to thus utilize heat taken up in the melted snow; to increase the heat of the water used for spraying to the boiling point; to provide means for tilting the container to cause the melted snow to drain' properly; to adapt the apparatus to be moved from place to place;.to secure simplicity of construction and operation,and to obtain other bev brought at 16, thus closing the chamber 15 thereat and" preventing the escape ofthe heat to the outer atmosphere. yThe posts 11 extend upward between the outer and inner walls 13, 14 and engage at their tops the connecting portion 16, thereby supporting saidy walls and the' shell 12. Preferably the outer wall 13 extends downward past the gap between the pan @and the sills, and is spaced out wardlyy away from the edge of the pan so as to entrap the heat and cause the same to pass upward between the outer and inner walls of the shell, as shown at the front of out in the following description.

Referring' to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate the saine parts throughout the several views; Figure 1 is a vertical central section taken longitudinally of a street cleaning appa.- ratus for melting snow and the like constructed` in accordance with `my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are 'frontfandrear elevations 4 is' a transverse cross sectional view taken on a plane through a pair of .op osite posts; Fig. 5 is a'side'elevation showing the shell removed; Fig. 6 is an underneath viewofthe apparatus; and Fig. 7

thermore, the pan `provides va vperipheral fiange1'7V which stands up around three sides of the saine to preventv escapeY of water, ex;- cept at the rear, andthe inner wall 14 of the shell hangs rdown' inside of thisl flange, the said inner' wallk 14 obviously being of less lengththan the outer wall 13.

The water is allowed to escape from the container at one end of the pan, preferably the rearend, and said rear end.r is hereshow'n the shell and other parts removed.

In the specificI embodiment ofy the invene tion illustrated in said drawings, the refers ence numeral 1 indicates the chassis having the machine in Fig. 1, see also Fig. 4. Furi the container, opening `the burner iames,

as overlapping and resting upon the upper edge of a trough 18 extending from side to side of the apparatus at its rear. The container walls 13, 14 both terminate above the pan at this "rear end of it to allow the water to flow from the pan into the said trough 18 see Fig. 5. This obviously interferes with the upward passage of heat at the rear end of the machine from beneath the pan Vinto the Vspace between the walls 13 and 14, and so preferably ilues 20 open through the bottom of the pan and extend up between said walls 13 and 14, at intervals, as shown. Also heat will pass from the portions of the chambers 15 at thesides of the shell around into the portion of said chamber at the back or rear end. of the shell.

lPreferably, the inner wall 14 is perforated with a plurality of holes 21 through which the heat may enter the interior chamber of the container to supplement the heat radiated from the walls, said holesbeing at the lower part of the shell fo-r this purpose, as shown. As a means of increasing the radiating surface, heat drums. 22 extending `upwardly within downwardly through the pan bottom and closed at their tops. These' drums may also be perforated, as. at 23, thusallowing a circulation of heat from the burners 'up the drums and out into direct contact with snow which has been thrown into the container.

The burners preferably utilize oil as their fuel, and I have accordingly shown tanks 24 on the front Vand rear ends .of the container from which'oil may be supplied under pressure through suitable supply pipes 25.

It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a portion of the melted snow which as consumed: heat from the burners, to melt more ofi the snow, yand to this end water .is taken from the trough 18 and sprayed onto the top of the snow within the container. To this end, a pipe 26- extends longitudinally of the container at its top and is provided with a plurality of spray heads 27. At one end, preferably at the Vfront of the machine, this pipe 26extends downwardly between the outer and inner walls 13', 14 of the container shell to a pump 28 shown mounted upon a front platform 29 and driven by a gas engine 30. A leads from .the trough 18 to theV said pump, and thusl as much water as needed is used from saidl trough, the rest overflowing' into the street or being led away in any suitable manner. Vl'f desired, the'heat of the water sprayed ontol the snow in the container may be increased by leading the supply pipes from the trough 18 to the pump 28 'through and I have shown said pipes comprising two coils 31, 32 connecting with thetrough at through a space 19 thus formed,l

1 have shown a plurality of' Supply pipe.

its opposite Yends and ex-y tendingto the front of the apparatus upon opposite sides of the burners, beneath the pan, and thence upwardly between the walls 13 and 14 of the shell to the platform 29 Yabove which they project outwardly over the platform and are joined to a single pipe 33 leading to the pump 28, see Figs. 1 and 2 more especially.

preferably provided with a by means of which the water supply may be obtained through either or both of the coils. Thus if the apparatus is tilted sidewise and the water stands only. in one end Aof the trough, the coil connecting with the other end is shut off and water drawn through the.

c oil the end of whichY is submerged. The water from the trough, which is somewhat warm to begin with, is by passing through the coil or coils raised to' boiling temperature, so `that when sprayed upon the top of the snow within the container it'melts the same eifectually.

Preferably, the trough 18 is provided'at its rear side'and near its top with Vnozzles 36 from which the water overflows and to which hose (not shown) can be connected to conduct thev waterto any desired pla-ce.v

bviously it is necessary for the pan to be tilted toward its open or rear end to cause the water to flow into the 4trough 18, andV to counteract the eect of a grade tiltingrthe apparatus in the opposite direction, the' front wheel 3 is shown for illustrative purposes swiveled upon the lower end of a vertically arranged screw 37 threaded through the front endof the platform 29. Obviously by turning said forward end of the truck may beY raised, thereby tilting the pan toward the rear as desired. f

In operation, the burners are lighted and regulated to supply an extensive and hot flame. Snow is thrown into the container in any suitable manner, the engine 30 operated to circulate the water from the trough 18 through theY coils 32, 33, heating' it to scalding temperature, and thence through the spray heads 27.0nto the snowin the container. The heat from the burners not only heats the metal forming the pan but also passes upward betweenV the innerand outer side walls of the shell of the container, heating the same to meltthe snow, and Valso escapes into the container through the holesf21 into direct contact with the snow; vHeat also" passes up into the heat drums 22 and through the holes 23V therein, and with proper burners the snowrwill be melted substantially as fast Vas it can be shoveled into the container. The apparatus may be pushed from'place to place and isV as by shoveling, andY Each branch is valve, 34 and 35,V

screw in the platforimthe Y complete within itself, vtheoperation of the i ner than itheone particularlyshown for purposes of illustration, and if desired, they can be otherwise yplaced in the container, as long as the spray therefrom will be directed against the snow for melting the same most effectually. @ther detail modifications may be made in manufacturing my improved snow melting apparatus without ldeparting from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and ll donot wish to be understood as limiting myself except as required by the following claims when construed in the lightof the prior art.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat I claim is.

l. rlhevcombination of a frame or chassis having pins projecting upward therefrom, a container supported on said pins and adapted to' receive snow, burners on said frame or chassis beneath said container, and means for supplying fuel to said burners.

2.' The combination with the sills of a frame or chassis, of-cross-pieces, pins yprojecting upward from said sills and crosspieces, a container seated on :said pins and adapted to receive snow, and burners mountp ed on said cross-pieces beneath said container.

3. rEhe combination with a frame or chassis having pins projectingl upward therefrom, of a container adapted to receive snow seated on said pins, studs extending upward from the frame'or chassis to-prevent lateral displacement of said container,

and burners on said frame or chassis `beneath said container.

. 4. The combination vwith a frame or chassis, of a pan, studs extending upward y from the frame or chassis upon opposite sides of said pan adapted to prevent lateral displacement thereof, a shell carried by said studs independent ofsaid pan, on said frame or chassis beneath said pan.

5. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a horizontal pan, a shell extending upward from the edges of said panand having double walls with the space therebetween open at the bottom outside said pan, means for securing said shell and pan, and burners beneath said pan.

6. VThe combination with a frame or chassis, of a horizontal pan, a shell extending upward from the .edges of said pan and having double walls with the space therebetween open at the bottom and outside said pan except at the rear end thereof where it is above the pan andspaced therefrom, flues extending through the pan between said double walls at its rear, and burners beneath said pan.

7. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a pan elevated above the same, a shell extending upward from the frame or chassis and having double'walls with the inner one meeting the edge of said pan and and burners 'within said container the outer .one depending outside the frame or chassis, and bur-ners on said frame or chassis beneath the pan.

8'. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a pan elevated above the same at its sides and one end, a shell extending .upward from :the chassis at said sides and end and having double walls, the inner wall at said sides and end meeting the edge ofthe pan` and the outer wall depending at said sides and vend outside the frame or chassis and both walls terminating a distance'above the pan at the other end of the shell, flues extending through the pan between said double walls at said last-mentioned end of the shell, and burners beneath said pan.

9. The combination with a frame or chassis, of studs extending upward therefrom, a shell having double side walls with the space between them open at its bottom and receiving said studs, a pan at the bottom of said shell, and burners l0. rihe combination with a frame or chassis, of 'a container upon said chassis comprising a'pan adapted to receive snow andthe like and a shell at the side of said pan extending 'upwardly therefrom, burners beneath said pan for heating the same, and means for conveying heat above the botto-m of the pan within said container and adapted to contact with snow and the like thrown into said'container.`

11. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a container upon said frame or chassis comprising a pan adapted to receive snow and the like and a shell at the side of said pan extending upwardly therefrom, burners beneath said pan for heating the same, and heat drums projecting upwardly within said container open at their bottoms through the pan for conveying heat Yabove the bottom of the pan within said container and adapted to contact with snow and the like thrown into said container.

l2. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a container upon said frame or chassis comprising a pan adapted to receive snowand the like and a shell at the side of said pan extending upwardly therefrom burners beneath said pan for heating the same, and

having their upper ends closed to thel down passage of sno-w or the like throwninto the container and having their lower ends opening through thek pan for conveying heat above the bottom of the pan within said container and adapted to contact with snow and the like thrown into said container.

i3. The combination with a frame or chassis, of a container upon said frame or chassis comprising a pan adapted to receive snow and the like and a shell at the side of said pan extending upwardly therefrom,

beneath said frame or heat drums projecting upwardly iis` burners beneath said pan for heating the same, and heat drumsi projecting upwardly within said container in communication through the pan with the heat from said burners, and having perforations above said pan within the container for conveying heat tainer. f

14. The combination with. a container adapted to receive snow at its top, and means forV applying heat to said container at its bottom, off-a trough at one end of said container adapted to receive water therefrom, pipes leading from opposite ends of said trough along opposite Asides of said container beneath the same, a pump connected to said pipes, a discharge pipe in the top of the container havinga spraying head, and means beneath said container for heating both it and the said pipes therebeneath. Y L5. The combination with a` container 4adapted to receive snow, of a trough at one end of said container adapted to receive water therefrom, pipe 'coils leading from opposite ends of said trough along opposite sides of said container, a pump connected to said pipes, a discharge pipe leading'from said pump to the upper part of said container, and means beneath said container for heating both it and the said pipe coils.

16. The combination with a container above the bottom of the pan within the conadapted to receive snow and having double side walls, of a pipe adapted to receive a portion ofthe water discharged at one end of said container and extending along the bottom of the same to the other end upward between the double walls thereat and discharging'into the top of the container, means for forcing water through said pipe, and means beneath said container vfor heating the same and said pipe and the space'between said double walls. Y

17. The combination of a shell having double walls the outer one of which is longer than the linner. one on three sides of the shell, a pan meeting the lower edge of the inner wall on said tending beneath the wall at the other side in spaced relation thereto, lines extending through saidpan into the space ofthe double wall at said last-mentioned side, perforated drums extending upward from said pan, the inner wall of the shell being also perforated for its lower portion, and burners beneath said pan adapted to supply heat to said drums and space between the do-uble walls of the container. i Y

CHARLES fr. sMiri-i.

Witnesses:

HOWARD P. KING, JANET A. Arens.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained forvfve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. Y

three sidesof the shell, and eX- 

